The Use and Abuse of EFL Dictionaries: How Learners of English as a Foreign Language Read and Interpret Dictionary Entries

This volume examines some of the ways in which dictionary use has been studied, considers the problems encountered by researchers in this field, and presents a series of experiments which explore fundamental questions concerning the use of dictionaries by learners of English as a foreign language. - Are dictionaries helpful in examinations? Does defining style affect consultation success? Do dictionaries benefit some kinds of learners more than others? How useful are illustrative examples? The author concludes with an analysis of current trends in the design of dictionaries for learners of English, and considers the possible impact of new elctronic formats on dictionary use.